By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — St. Charles made school history last week, completing a regular season 10-0 for the first time ever. But while the Comets were pleased with those wins, it’s the next five that commands their greatest attention.

The Comets defeated E.D. White 58-0 on Friday, finishing a truly dominant regular season that saw them outscore their opposition by a staggering 475-25 margin, including six shutouts.

Most teams want to enter the postseason on a winning streak. The Comets (10-0) enter on a ridiculous shutout streak at four straight and counting; opponents have scored offensive points just once in the last seven games.

But it’s the Comets’ attention to detail that’s responsible for much of that kind of success; as such, don’t expect the second seeded Comets to look past No. 31 seed Kaplan (6-4), the visitor to Thomas Dupuy Stadium this Friday in the bi-district round of the Class 2A playoffs.

“It’s a team we’ve never seen, and that’s always difficult,” said St. Charles coach Frank Monica. “I really don’t know how we got them as a first round opponent. They played against Patterson and in a real tough district.

“I think it’s important that our kids realize we have to have a sense or urgency. You have to face the reality that if you aren’t successful Friday night, you’ll be picking up helmets and shoulder pads on Monday. It’s the playoffs and what you’ve done before goes out the window.”

Kaplan finished second in District 9-3A, behind undefeated Patterson, and enters the playoffs on a four game win streak. Kaplan and St. Charles have one common opponent in Jeanerette; Kaplan won the game 36-14, while SCC downed the Tigers 49-0.

Kaplan’s defense has improved over the last four weeks, allowing just 13 points overall in wins over North Vermilion and Erath, and 41 total over the last four. Prior to that, two losses came at the hands of Patterson and West St. Mary; the opposition scored 61 and 72 points in those games, respectively. Since the Patterson game, Kaplan has outscored its competition 118-41.

“They’ve got a 220 pound fullback and a 210 pound quarterback that we’ll have to find a way to stop,” said Monica. “Their Wing-T … we’ve seen the Wing-T a few times this year, but they run all aspects of it. If you’re not well-versed in it and disciplined, you’ll have problems.”

SCC had no such problems on Friday against E.D. White, building a 37-point lead after a first half in which it allowed just two first downs, and on a night where the SCC first team offense scored on nine of its 10 possessions.

Senior Donnie Savoie threw four touchdown passes on senior night to lead the charge.

“It’s great to have all the players we have, and everyone stepped up tonight,” Savoie said. “These receivers really make my job a whole lot easier … You always want to play well on senior night, but four touchdowns, I didn’t really see that coming.”

Said Monica, “I’m tickled to death to see his success tonight. There’s not a player who works harder than Donnie Savoie. He made a mistake, a bad read on the interception. He recognized it and immediately adjusted.”

Chad McNeil caught two of those scoring passes. Sammy Miller and Chris Millet caught the others.

Brandon Zimmer rushed for two scores. Lazedrick Thompson ran for another. Defensively, Taylor Cochran recovered two fumbles, Nick Montagut returned an interception for a score, and Ross Authement had an interception, a sack and a forced fumble. Patrick Juneau hit a 33-yard field goal.

E.D. White posted just 97 yards of offense.

“Our thing that we always say, ‘Play fast and play focused,’” said SCC defensive end LaJaylin Smith. “And listen to our coaches. If we do those things, everything falls into place.”

Thompson had to leave the game in the first half after sustaining a leg injury on a run into the redzone called back by penalty. He would walk off to the sideline without help, though.

“With the lead, we just decided to be cautious with him,” said Monica.

In the fourth quarter, St. Charles’ Nick Forsyth entered the game for a play, coming in to a loud ovation.

Forsyth, who has suffered from muscular dystrophy since the age of seven, has been a St. Charles team manager for five years. He lined up at wide receiver.

“He’s always with us. It was so important,” said Monica.

“This is a kid who’s been with us for five years. He’s got a younger brother on the team, an older brother who played for us. I was so happy to see him out there.”